Massive 13-foot shark spotted yards from beach as swimmers scream in panic

Terrified swimmers fled the water in panic at a Florida beach as a 13ft shark was spotted surprisingly close to the shore.

Dramatic footage shows the hammerhead close to the surface at Navarre Beach on Tuesday.

Holidaymakers at the popular tourist hotspot ran from the water after seeing the shark's fin.

Images were shared by the Navarre Beach Fire Department.

Witness Christina Reinholt posted a clip on Facebook , writing: "This was on Navarre Beach earlier today.

"An estimated 13ft hammerhead attacked and ate a tarpon off shore.

The shark was spotted unusually close to bathers in Florida (Facebook)

Footage of the shark has been widely shared on social media (Facebook)

"Lifeguards evacuated the water and some beach goers got the experience of a freaking lifetime."

The video has been viewed more than 25,000 times.

A voice can be heard stating: "Oh my god it's a shark. It's another shark."

Navarre Beach Fire Rescue fire chief Danny Fureigh told Newsweek: "This hammerhead was feeding on what we believe to be a tarpon.

The 13ft hammerhead shark was spotted yards from the shore (Facebook)

"Hammerhead attacks on humans are extremely rare and our lifeguards removed people due to the amount of blood from its feeding, fearing other sharks may be attracted to the blood."

Usually sharks stay a few hundred feet from the shore.